Double-walled cup

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a double-walled cup ( 1 ) which comprises an inner and an outer wall as well as a cup opening on its upper end and a bottom part on its lower end. The outer wall is substantially produced from paper, cardboard or the like. The object of the invention is to improve said double-walled cup ( 1 ) in such a manner that it can be more rapidly and simply produced and assembled and to reduce the structural stability of the double-walled cup while maintaining its corresponding thermal insulating properties. For this purpose, the inner cup providing the inner wall is inserted into the outer cup ( 3 ) providing the outer wall and is secured therein or thereto in an especially detachable manner. The inner cup ( 2 ) is produced from an at least fluid-tight plastic material.

The invention relates to a double-walled cup with an inner and outerwall, wherein at its upper end the cup has a cup opening and at itslower end a bottom part. At least the outer wall is essentially madefrom paper, cardboard or the like.

A double-walled cup of this nature is known from EP 1 227 043. With thisdesign the outer wall is formed by a sleeve, which is generally pushedfrom below onto an inner cup forming the inner wall. The sleeve formingthe outer wall is attached to the inner cup at its upper end and at itslower end, wherein an air gap is formed between the sleeve and the innercup, which provides thermal insulation for the double-walled cup.

A double-walled cup of this nature exhibits good insulating properties,so that it can be well used both for storing and extracting a warm orhot drink and for storing and extracting a cooled drink or the like. Theinner cup is similarly manufactured from paper, cardboard or the like,wherein at least the inner cup has in addition a fluid-tight coating onits inner side.

The object of the present invention is to improve a double-walled cup ofthis nature such that it can be more rapidly and simply produced andassembled whilst maintaining the appropriate thermal insulationproperties and at the same time the structure of the double-walled cupis realised in a more stable manner.

The object is solved by the features of claim 1.

According to the invention a double-walled cup of this nature ischaracterised in particular in that the inner cup providing the innerwall is inserted into an outer cup providing the outer wall and isattached to it in particular in a detachable manner and the inner cup isformed at least from a fluid-tight plastic material.

Through the use of an inner cup and an outer cup, the structure of thedouble-walled cup is more mechanically stable, because a sleeve open atthe bottom is omitted, which is pushed onto the inner cup from below. Ifthe inner cup has a leak, this does not lead to a leak in thedouble-walled cup by means of which a user's clothes may become dirty.Instead, the outer cup provides a catchment method for a leak of thisnature in the inner cup, so that the double-walled cup according to theinvention is not only more stable, but rather is also safer in use.

The inner cup can be arranged in the outer cup in various ways and canbe attached in it or to it. Through the use of two cups many methods areavailable for the detachable attachment, such as for example in theregion of the inner and outer walls, in the region of optionallyavailable edges of both cups and/or also in the region of the bottomparts of both cups. In addition the manufacture of the inner cup issimplified, because it is formed from a plastic material and can bemanufactured in various designs and variations by appropriate plasticmoulding techniques and can then be simply inserted into the outer cup.

This appropriate plastic material of the inner cup is at leastfluid-tight, so that with the use of pourable or liquid content, theinner cup is adequately sealed.

In order to improve the protective capability of the outer cup inparticular with a leak of the inner cup or with the passage of thefoodstuff or the like contained in the inner cup into the outer cup andsimilarly design it at least fluid-tight, the outer cup can be coatedinside and/or outside with a fluid-tight plastic film. This plastic filmcan, in particular with the coating of the outer cup on the outside,improve the printing capability of the outer cup, wherein already arelatively good printing capability is ensured by the use of paper,cardboard or the like for the outer cup.

In order to improve the removal in particular of a liquid foodstuff fromthe double-walled cup, the outer cup can have an outwardly protrudingedge flange at least partially surrounding an appropriate upper outercup opening. In this way the outer cup is not only stabilised in itsshape in particular in the region of the outer cup opening, but ratheralso drinking a liquid foodstuff from the cup is simplified. In anadvantageous embodiment the corresponding edge flange can be formed as arolled rim which is beaded outwards. The appropriate plastic film canalso be applied in the region of this rolled rim.

In order to also simplify the removal from the inner cup or optionallyto provide an upper seal of the inner cup with respect to the outer cup,the inner cup can have at least partially an inner edge flangesurrounding its upper inner cup opening. This can be formed in variousways depending on requirements.

In an advantageous embodiment the inner edge flange can at least inplaces contact the outer edge flange of the outer cup from above. Inthis way removal of the in particular liquid foodstuff from thedouble-walled cup is possible via both of the edge flanges which are incontact with one another. In addition a very simple and adequate sealingof the inner cup with respect to the outer cup is provided in the regionof the edge flanges.

In order to improve the sealing and to already, for example, achieve acertain attachment of the inner cup with respect to the outer cup or atleast a fixing in the relative position, the inner edge flange can atleast partially circumferentially grip the outer edge flange. Thecircumferential gripping effect can be realised in various ways. In oneembodiment the outer edge flange is relatively loosely grippedcircumferentially by the inner edge flange so that the mutual support ofthe edge flanges essentially only serves the positioning of the innercup in the outer cup. There is similarly the possibility that thecircumferential gripping occurs relatively tightly so that essentially africtionally engaged joint is provided in this region which alreadyfacilitates a certain and optionally also adequate fixing of the innercup in the outer cup. In this connection, in order to improve thefixing, the inner edge flange and the outer edge flange can be joinedtogether in particular detachably. A joint of this nature can beestablished by a suitable adhesive or also for example by fusing andjoining with the plastic film applied to the outer cup in the region ofthe edge flanges.

Of course, in addition to a joint of this nature in the region of theedge flanges, a further joint by adhesive, fusing of the plastic film orthe like can also occur in the region of the inner and outer walls ofthe inner and outer cups or in the region of the corresponding bottomparts of both cups additionally or also alternatively.

In particular when using a rolled rim circumferentially flanged outwardson the outer cup it may prove to be advantageous if the inner edgeflange is formed with an inverse U-shape and with the inner cup insertedthe rolled rim circumferentially grips from above by means of thecorresponding U-limbs.

Then the corresponding detachable attachment of both cups can also occurby means of the U-limbs and the rolled rim. A frictionally engaged jointmay be adequate in this connection.

There is also the possibility that the inner edge flange is formedessentially as a flat edge flange protruding radially outwards, whichfor example essentially only contacts the outer edge flange or therolled rim from above. Here, there is the possibility that a flat edgeflange of this nature protrudes radially over the outer edge flange andforms for example a drip edge in its free end.

In another embodiment of the invention the inner edge flange can beplaced on a shoulder protruding at least in places from the inner sideof the outer cup, in particular when formed as a flat edge flange. Inthis way the upper inner cup opening is arranged offset downwards withrespect to the upper outer cup opening and the inner cup is completelyaccommodated by the outer cup. An appropriate attachment and/or sealingbetween the inner cup and outer cup can occur through the support of theinner cup flange on the corresponding shoulder, wherein in this region adetachable attachment can also occur via adhesive, fusing of plasticfilm or the like applied to the outer cup.

Instead of supporting the inner edge flange on a shoulder of thisnature, with a further embodiment the inner edge flange which is inparticular formed as a flat edge flange can be inserted with its freeend in a groove running around the inner side of the outer cup. Both bysupporting on the shoulder and also by insertion into the groove, thecorresponding relative position of the inner cup is defined in relationto the outer cup. The engagement of the free end in the groove can inparticular provide a positively locked joint of both cups, wherein acertain latching effect is established by the engagement of the free endin the groove on inserting the inner cup into the outer cup. Also inthis connection the appropriate attachment or sealing can occur in theregion of the free end and the groove, with in turn adhesive, fusing ofthe plastic film on the outer cup or the like.

The insertion of the inner cup using a shoulder or a groove is at leastwith the use of the groove thus simplified in that it has a depth whichis less than the length of the flat edge flange. This can howeversimilarly apply in the region of the shoulder so that also its depth isless than the length of the flat edge flange. In this way manufacture ofthe appropriate shoulder or groove is simplified, because it can beformed in the outer cup with little expense and without significantlyaffecting its outer visible side.

In particular with the formation of a groove, the insertion of the freeend of the flat edge flange and sealing in this region can be improvedin this way if optionally the flat edge flange is rounded off at itsfree end.

There is the possibility that the outer cup is conically extendedupwards at its upper end in an appropriate upper wall section betweenthe outer cup opening and the shoulder. In this way the arrangement ofthe inner cup and in particular of the flat edge flange with theshoulder is simplified. However, in this connection to improve thefixing of the inner cup in the outer cup, the corresponding wall sectionof the outer cup can extend from the shoulder upwards essentiallyvertically to the corresponding outer edge flange.

In a further embodiment according to the invention the inner cup can endwith its lower end or bottom part spaced to the lower end or bottom partof the outer cup with the formation of an accommodation space betweenthese ends or bottom parts. This accommodation space can be used toaccommodate a surprise present or the like, which is accessible inparticular after emptying the inner cup and its removal from the outercup. There is however also the possibility that the lower end or thebottom part of the inner cup is in contact with the lower end or bottompart of the outer cup, so that the inner cup is not just supported bycontact with the corresponding edge flanges, but rather also throughcontact with the corresponding bottom parts in the outer cup. Inaddition in this connection, attachment of both cups can occur also inthe region of the bottom parts or lower ends. With an accommodationspace of only small size it may also provide thermal insulation, becausedirect contact in this region between the inner cup and outer cup isavoided.

The thermal insulation between the inner and outer cups can be improvedin that between at least the inner cup wall and the outer cup wall anair chamber is formed in particular running in the circumferentialdirection. There is also the possibility that a large number of airchambers of this nature can be arranged in the circumferentialdirection, which are interrupted by appropriate supporting ribs,supporting protrusions or the like between both cups. The correspondingair chambers can in this connection both extend in the verticaldirection and be separated from one another in the circumferentialdirection and/or extend in the circumferential direction and beseparated from one another in the vertical direction.

For the cross-sections of the cups various geometrical shapes areconceivable, such as circular, oval, rectangular and in particularsquare. In order to simplify holding the double-walled cup, the innercup wall and the outer cup wall can extend upwards conically. Variousrelationships are possible for the appropriate cone angle for the innercup wall and outer cup wall. Direct contact between the inner and outerwalls is for example then possible when the cone angle of the inner cupwall and the outer cup wall are equal. However, for an equal cone anglea constant spacing between the inner and outer walls can also be presentif for example the arrangement of the inner cup in the outer cup occursusing the shoulder or the groove. Similarly there is the possibilitythat the cone angle of the inner cup wall and the outer cup wall aredifferent. In one embodiment the cone angle of the outer cup wall islarger than the cone angle of the inner cup wall so that a spacingbetween the inner and outer cup walls increases in the direction of thecup opening. Also the inverse case is possible, i.e. a cone angle of theinner cup wall is larger than a cone angle of the outer cup wall so thatthe spacing between both increases in the direction of the bottom of thecup.

It has already been pointed out that the appropriate attachment of thetwo cups can take place at different points. If this attachment is forexample to also occur in the region of the cup walls, it may be regardedas advantageous if the inner cup wall contacts the outer cup wall insideat least in places.

The appropriate plastic material of the inner cup not only improves itssealing properties, but also its service life. In addition, a plasticmaterial of this nature can also be formed gas tight in a simple manneror it in any case features appropriate sealing with respect to gas aswell as with respect to liquid. In this way sensitive foodstuffs, suchas yoghurt, biscuit, or the like are better protected against odours orother gases. In a similar way an emission of an odour or a gas from thedouble-walled cup is prevented if it contains for example cheese oranother strongly smelling foodstuff.

Closure of the double-walled cup can be achieved in various ways. Forexample a lid can be placed in a known manner on the corresponding edgeflange of the outer cup or inner cup. There is also the possibility ofdetachably attaching a sealing foil for closing the inner cup to theinner or outer edge flange.

In principle there is also the possibility that the inner cup has adifferent geometrical shape than the outer cup apart optionally from theregion of the edge flanges that are in contact with one another or inthe region where the inner edge flange is arranged on the shoulder or inthe groove. Thus an oval or rectangular inner cup can also be arrangedfor example in an outer cup with a round cross-section or vice versa.The appropriate positioning of the cups relative to one another or alsotheir attachment can then only occur in the region of the geometricalsimilar edge flanges or by contact of the inner edge flange on theshoulder or in the groove.

For reasons of a simplified arrangement of the two cups it may howeverbe advantageous if the cross-sections of the inner and outer cups areessentially geometrically similar to one another over the completeheight of the double-walled cup.

Referring to the above description, it may also be of advantage if theinner cup stands at least in places on a bottom part of the outer cup atits lower end. In this way the positioning of the inner cup is supportedin the outer cup and furthermore in the region of this support adetachable attachment of both cups can also occur. If the support isonly provided in places, the remaining region can also provide thermalinsulation.

It is also pointed out that thermal insulation with the double-walledcup according to the invention also can only occur through the outer cupformed out of paper, cardboard or the like, even if in particular theinner cup wall is in contact with the outer cup wall from the inside.There is here the possibility that the outer cup has a sufficientmaterial thickness in the region of its outer cup wall or it is formedfor example double-walled with optionally air chambers arranged betweenthe walls.

A plastic material for the inner cup which is both fluid and alsogas-tight is for example polypropylene, polystyrene, polyester,polyethylene, a combination of these materials or the like.

It has already been pointed out that the connection between the innerand outer walls can occur in various ways, wherein in particular aconnection by means of the plastic film applied to the outer cup can beprovided by polyethylene.

In connection with the accommodation space mentioned above foraccommodating a surprise present it may furthermore prove to beadvantageous if it can also be removed already before the emptying ofthe inner cup and without releasing the inner cup from the outer cup.This can be realised for example in that a lower cup section of theouter cup is detachable from the upper cup section.

A possibility of providing a detachable capability of this naturebetween the cup sections is through the formation of a tear-off strip ortear-off line between these cup sections.

The tearing off of the strip or line can be simplified if a tear-off tabprotrudes or at least a tear-off tab of this nature is joined to thestrip or line and for example can be folded out of the outer surface ofthe outer cup.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are given in the figuresincluded in the drawings. The following are shown:

FIG. 1 a longitudinal section through a first embodiment of adouble-walled cup;

FIG. 2 an enlarged illustration of a detail “A” of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 an illustration analogous to FIG. 2 for a further embodiment;

FIG. 4 an illustration analogous to FIG. 2 for another furtherembodiment;

FIG. 5 a longitudinal section through a second embodiment of adouble-walled cup according to the invention;

FIG. 6 a longitudinal section through a third embodiment of adouble-walled cup according to the invention;

FIG. 7 a longitudinal section through a fourth embodiment of adouble-walled cup according to the invention;

FIG. 8 an enlarged illustration of a detail “A” of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 a longitudinal section through a fifth embodiment of adouble-walled cup according to the invention; and

FIG. 10 an enlarged illustration of a detail “A” of FIG. 9.

FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section through a first embodiment of adouble-walled cup 1 with an inner cup 2 and an outer cup 3. The innercup 2 is arranged spaced with its lower end 20 to the lower end 21 ofthe outer cup 3, wherein this lower end 21 is formed by a bottom part29. Between the ends 20, 21 an accommodation space 22 is formed whichalso serves as an air chamber 25 for the thermal insulation between thetwo cups 2, 3. A surprise present 40 is arranged within theaccommodation space 22. Access to the accommodation space 22 is obtainedby tearing off a tear-off strip 34 which is formed between an upper cupsection 33 and a lower cup section 32 of the outer cup 3. The tear-offstrip 34 has a tear-off tab 35 which can be grasped for tearing off.

The inner and outer cups 2, 3 each have at the upper end an appropriateupper inner or outer cup opening 8, 6. This is closed off in FIG. 1 by asealed-on sealing foil 28. The sealing foil 28 is sealed on in theregion of an inner edge flange 9. This inner edge flange 9 protrudesoutwards from the inner cup 2 and surrounds the corresponding inner cupopening. On the inside 31 of the inner cup 2 a consumable foodstuff canbe arranged and after removal of the sealing foil 28 or also of acorresponding lid it can be removed from the double-walled cup 1.

Below the corresponding inner edge flange 9 an outer edge flange 5 isarranged in the form of a rolled rim 7 which is beaded outwards. Thisouter edge flange 5 is arranged on the upper end of the outer cup 3 andsurrounds its upper outer cup opening 6.

Accordingly in FIG. 1, the inner wall or inner cup wall 23 formed by theinner cup 2, refer also to the following embodiments, and the outer wallor outer cup wall 24 formed by the outer cup 3, refer also to thefollowing embodiments, are in contact, wherein no air chamber is formedbetween them and the thermal insulation is achieved through the outercup 3 and its material, such as paper, cardboard or the like.

The inner and outer cups 2, 3 are conically extended in the direction ofthe respective cup opening, wherein the corresponding cone angles, referalso to the following embodiments, are equal in this case.

In the following FIGS. 2 to 4 various embodiments for detail “A”according to FIG. 1 are illustrated enlarged. In these figures as withall other figures the same parts are in each case identified with thesame reference numerals and are sometimes only mentioned in conjunctionwith a figure.

In FIG. 2 it can be seen that the sealing foil 28 is applied from aboveonto a flat region of the inner edge flange 9 where it is attachedsealed. The inner edge flange 9 has an inverse U-shape with two U-limbs10 and 11 pointing downwards. These overlap the outer edge flange 5 fromabove which is formed as the rolled rim 7. Here, the outer U-limb 10 isspaced, forming a free space, relative to the outer side of the rolledrim 7. The inner U-limb 11 and the connection of the U-limbs are in eachcase in contact with the rolled rim 7 or the outer cup wall 24.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3 the respective U-limbs 10, 11 are in closecontact with the rolled rim 7 so that essentially a frictionally engagedjoint is formed through the contact of the outer edge flange 5 and theinner edge flange 9.

This applies analogously also to the embodiment of FIG. 4, wherein ithas two U-limbs of approximately equal material strength, whereas in theembodiment according to FIG. 3 the outer U-limb 10 has a greatermaterial thickness than the inner U-limb 11. In both embodimentsaccording to FIGS. 3 and 4 the connection of the U-limbs 10 and 11 is ineach case formed with a greater material thickness than the U-limbs.

In FIG. 5 a second embodiment of a double-walled cup is illustrated.This differs from the embodiment according to FIG. 1 essentially in thatthe inner cup 2 extends with its lower end 20 to the lower end 21 of theouter cup 3. The lower end 20 of the inner cup 2 is thus so formed thatthe inner cup 2 in some places stands on the corresponding bottom part29 and an air chamber 25 is formed between them.

The corresponding cone angles 26 of inner cup 2 and 27 of outer cup 3are each equally large, wherein between the inner cup wall 23 and outercup wall 24 no further free space is formed for an air chamber or thelike, but rather both cup walls are in contact over their completeheight.

In the third embodiment according to FIG. 6 the cup walls 23, 24 arearranged spaced from one another at least over the greatest part oftheir longitudinal extent, wherein an air chamber 25 of essentiallyequal width is formed due to the equal cone angles 26, 27 in thedirection perpendicular to the verticals 36.

The other features of the third embodiment essentially correspond tothose of the first and second embodiments according to FIGS. 1 and 5.

It should be noted that the respective details “A” corresponding to theFIGS. 2 to 4 can be formed for all embodiments described so far.

The attachment of the two cups 2, 3 can on one hand occur in the regionof the corresponding edge flange 5, 9. This can for example be realisedin that, refer to FIGS. 3 and 4, a frictionally engaged joint is formedbetween the edge flanges. Additionally or alternatively, an adhesive canbe arranged between the edge flanges or also between the inner cup wall23 and the outer cup wall 24 or between the lower end 20 of the innercup 2 and the lower end 21 of the outer cup 3 or for the detachableconnection of both cups 2, 3 a plastic film 4, refer to FIG. 1, appliedto the inner side and optionally also to the outer side of the outer cup3 can be briefly melted and then joined to the inner cup 2 at theappropriate point. The joint via the plastic film can of course alsooccur in the region of the corresponding edge flange 5, 9.

There is similarly the possibility that the cone angles 26, 27 in theembodiments according to FIGS. 1, 5 and 6 are different, refer forexample also to the fifth and sixth embodiments according to FIGS. 7 and9. Here, the cone angle 26 of the inner cup can be smaller than thecorresponding cone angle 27 of the outer cup or also vice versa. Due todifferent cone angles a corresponding air chamber 25 is also producedbetween the inner cup wall 23 and the outer cup wall 24, refer again toFIGS. 7 and 9.

The fourth embodiment according to FIG. 7 differs from the embodimentsdue to a different positioning and formation of the inner edge flange 9.This is formed as the flat edge flange 12, refer also to FIG. 8, whichis an enlarged illustration of the detail “A” from FIG. 7. This flatedge flange 12 lies with its underside and its free end 15 on a shoulder14 which is formed on an inner side 13 of the outer cup 3. Above theshoulder 14 a wall section 19 of the outer cup wall 24 extends over aheight 39. This wall section 19 extends essentially parallel to theverticals 36 up to the rolled rim 7 as the outer edge flange 5. Acorresponding depth 17 of the shoulder 14 is less than a length 18 ofthe flat edge flange 12, with which it is spaced radially outwards fromthe inner cup 2 in the region of the inner cup opening 8. In this way anappropriate air chamber 25 is formed between the inner cup wall 23 andthe outer cup wall 24, refer also to FIG. 7, which due to the differentcone angles 26, 27 is formed with a width reducing in the direction ofthe bottom part 29 of the outer cup 3.

For the fourth embodiment according to FIG. 7 as well as for the otherembodiments, the inner cup 2 can also be formed according to FIG. 1,i.e. spaced to the bottom part 29 of the outer cup 3. Furthermore, withthis embodiment as well as with the other embodiments there is thepossibility that an appropriate shoulder is formed on the inner side ofthe inner cup 2, which for example, with double-walled cups 1 insertedinto one another serves as a destacking aid, wherein a shoulder of thisnature prevents the stacking depth of cups of this nature being toolarge, leading to jamming of the cups with one another.

Also in the embodiments according to FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 9 there is thepossibility of arranging an appropriate surprise present 40 in theaccommodation space 22, when the inner cup 2 terminates sufficientlyspaced to the bottom part 29 of the outer cup 3.

There is similarly the possibility that for example in the embodimentaccording to FIG. 7 the depth 17 of the shoulder 14 essentially matchesthe length 18 of the flat edge flange 12 and the air chamber 25 isformed such that the cone angle 26 of the inner cup 2 is larger than thecone angle 27 of the outer cup 3. In this way an air chamber 25 isformed which has an increase in width in the direction of the bottompart 29.

In the embodiments according to FIGS. 7 and 9, the inner cup 2 is ineach case completely positioned in the inside 30 of the outer cup 3,whereas in the embodiments according to FIGS. 1, 5 and 6 it protrudes atleast with its inner edge flange 9 from the inside 30 of the outer cup3.

In the fifth embodiment according to FIG. 9 the flat edge flange 12 isfixed as the inner edge flange 9 of the inner cup 2 in a different placeand manner to the outer cup 3. Here, the outer cup 3 has a groove 16 onits inner side 13 spaced to the rolled rim 7, in which the free end 15of the flat edge flange 12 is inserted. This free end 15 can here beformed rounded off for improved fitting and accommodation with respectto the groove 16.

The remaining features of the fifth embodiment correspond to the fourthembodiment according to FIG. 7. Appropriate alternatives of theembodiments are in turn possible, refer for example to the differentcone angles 26, 27 or the spaced end of the inner cup 2 with respect tothe bottom part 29 of the outer cup 3. Also the relation of the coneangles 26, 27 can be inverted, i.e. the cone angle 26 of the inner cupcan be larger than the cone angle 27 of the outer cup 3.

Also in the embodiment according to FIGS. 9 and 10 a corresponding depthof the groove 16 is lower than a length 18 of the flat edge flange 12.There is however similarly the possibility that the depth essentiallycorresponds to the length so that in the region of the groove 16 thecorresponding cup walls 23 and 24 are in contact and a corresponding airchamber 25 is formed with increasing width in the direction of thebottom part 29.

In FIGS. 7 and 9 the total height 37 of the double-walled cup 1 is stillprovided, which here is determined by the height of the outer cup 3. InFIGS. 1, 5 and 6 approximately the thickness of the joint of the twoU-limbs 10, 11, refer to FIGS. 2 to 4, is added in each case to thetotal height of the outer cup 3 in order to obtain the total height 37of the double-walled cup 1.

The corresponding diameter 38 of the cup opening is in the embodimentaccording to FIGS. 7 and 9 determined by the diameter 38 of the outercup 3, wherein this is determined in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6 by thecorresponding diameter of the inner cup 2 in this region.

It should be noted that other methods for the outer and inner edgeflanges are possible. One possibility is for example that the inner edgeflange 9 is formed as an outwardly beaded rolled rim, which engages fromabove into a U-shaped outer edge flange 5 open at the top. Similarlythere is the possibility that instead of a flat edge flange 12 in FIG.10 a rolled rim is formed as the inner edge flange 9, whichcorrespondingly engages the groove 16.

Other variations and combinations of the various embodiments accordingto the invention are possible, such as for example also a furthershoulder in the outer cup 3, on which the lower end 20 of the inner cup2 is supported.

The inner cup is formed from a gas and fluid-tight plastic material suchas polypropylene, polystyrene, polyester, polyethylene or a combinationof these materials and can be produced according to appropriate plasticmoulding techniques in a simple and rapid manner. Through the use of amaterial of this nature the inner cup is also sufficiently strong andhas an adequately long service life.

Through the use of paper, cardboard or the like for the outer cup it canbe easily printed on its outer side, wherein this printing capabilitycan be improved further by a plastic film of, for example, polyethyleneapplied appropriately to the outer side.

1. A double-wall cup comprising: an inner and outer wall, an upper cupopening and a lower cup bottom, at least the outer wall is essentiallyformed from paper or cardboard, the inner wall is formed by an innercup, which is inserted into an outer cup providing the outer wall, theinner cup being in particular detachably attached in the outer cup, andthe inner cup is formed from an at least fluid-tight plastic material,the inner cup has a flange that at least partially surrounds its upperinner cup opening and protrudes radially outward as a flat edge flangeto contact a shoulder that protrudes from an inner side of the outer cupat least in places.
 2. The double-wall cup according to claim 1, whereinthe outer cup is covered inside and/or outside with a plastic film. 3.The double-wall cup according to claim 1, wherein the outer cup has anouter edge flange which protrudes outwards and at least partiallysurrounds an upper outer cup opening.
 4. The double-wall cup accordingto claim 3, wherein the outer edge flange is formed as a beaded rolledrim. 5-12. (canceled)
 13. The double-wall cup according to claim 1,wherein the shoulder or has a depth which is less than the length of theflat edge flange.
 14. The double-wall cup according to claim 1, whereinthe flat edge flange is rounded off at its free end.
 15. The double-wallcup according to claim 1, wherein a wall section of the outer cupextends from the shoulder essentially vertically upwards to an outeredge flange.
 16. The double-wall cup according to claim 1, wherein theinner cup terminates with its lower end spaced from a lower end of theouter cup, forming an accommodation space between these ends.
 17. Thedouble-wall cup according to claim 1, wherein an air chamber running inthe circumferential direction, is formed between at least the inner cupwall and the outer cup wall.
 18. The double-wall cup according to claim1, wherein the inner cup wall and outer cup wall extend conicallyupwards.
 19. The double-wall cup according to claim 18, wherein the coneangles of the inner cup wall and outer cup wall are equal.
 20. Thedouble-wall cup according to claim 18, wherein the cone angles of theinner cup wall and outer cup wall are different.
 21. (canceled)
 22. Thedouble-wall cup according to claim 1, wherein the inner cup is formedfrom a gas-tight plastic material.
 23. The double-wall cup according toclaim 1, wherein a sealing foil or a lid for sealing the inside of thecup is detachably attached to inner or outer edge flanges.
 24. Thedouble-wall cup according to claim 1, wherein the cross-sections of theinner and outer cups geometrically similar to one another.
 25. Thedouble-wall cup according to claim 1, wherein the inner cup stands withits lower end on a bottom part of the outer cup at least in places. 26.The double-wall cup according to claim 1, wherein the inner cup ismanufactured from polypropylene, polystyrene, polyester, polyethylene, acombination of these materials or the like.
 27. The double-wall cupaccording to claim 1, wherein a connection between the inner cup and theouter cup is formed by means of the plastic film of, for example,polyethylene which is in particular applied on the inside of the outercup.
 28. The double-wall cup according to claim 1, wherein a lower cupsection of the outer cup is detachable from the upper cup sectionwithout physically compromising the inner cup to provide access to theaccommodation space.
 29. The double-wall cup according to claim 28,wherein a tear-off strip or a tear-off line is formed between the lowerand upper cup sections.
 30. The double-wall cup according to claim 29,wherein a tear-off tab is joined to the tear-off strip or to thetear-off line.
 31. The double-wall cup according to claim 1, wherein theinner cup and outer cup are joined together by an adhesive and/or bymechanical interaction.
 32. A double-wall cup comprising: an inner andouter wall, an upper cup opening and a lower cup bottom, at least theouter wall is essentially formed from paper or cardboard, the inner wallis formed by an inner cup, which is inserted into an outer cup providingthe outer wall, the inner cup being detachably attached in the outer cupand formed from an at least fluid-tight plastic material, the inner cuphas an inner edge flange that at least partially surrounds its upperinner cup opening and protrudes radially outward as a flat edge flangewith its free end inserted into a groove which runs around the innerside of the outer cup.
 33. The double-wall cup of claim 32 wherein thegroove has a depth which is less than a length of the flat edge flange.